Re: Rachels Can-Am 600, Movin’ on up...

Re: 78 CB400A for Rachel...THE MOVIE

solid old bike she is. looking forward to it!
 
Re: 78 CB400A for Rachel...THE MOVIE


trek97 said:
Rachel spent the summer riding.

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This morning it happened.

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Not planning any mods, just a good clean up.

dayyyyum, that thing exploded..........
 
Re: 78 CB400A for Rachel...THE MOVIE

Hurco550 said:
solid old bike she is. looking forward to it!

Thanks bro, I got a nice assortment of clean parts to go in it. Along w some polishing and painting to do.

WhyNot said:
dayyyyum, that thing exploded..........

It does look that way don’t it. Lol
 
Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

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airbox/inner fender took some elbow grease. But cleaned up really nice

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

That looks like acceptable fuel for the given task.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Sonreir said:
That looks like acceptable fuel for the given task.

Considering this mornings -16 below zero commute to work. :mad:

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Paint stripper sucks!!!

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The little woman approves. 8)

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A few necessary upgrades.
Shop vac filter added to prevent dust escaping the open air vent,

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Sealed a couple leaks w Plastidip

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Rigged up a sketchy, home spun reclaimer (and it actually works awesome) :)

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Glove upgrade-As the included gloves split at seems within 20 minutes. :p

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Swapped in this a 20w sealed led, the included fluorescent tube light sucks.

WEAK!

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NICE!!!

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Not big enough for a CB400 frame, but still a nice interior size.

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Meanwhile...all the chrome enjoying a soak in 5gal of evaporust

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Stripping factory clear from aluminum for polish. Thanks for the helpful info Alex.

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Thanks for recommending the Sharkhide Kiley.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

That's awesome. How's the air compressor keeping up? You seem to be getting plenty done.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

irk miller said:
That's awesome. How's the air compressor keeping up? You seem to be getting plenty done.

The compressor is JUST ENOUGH! 8)
Makes plenty of powerful air and recovers fast. But a 60gal tank would be better.

It really does the job, ensuring it gets plenty of cool down breaks.
Otherwise it will eat a reed valve.
ASK ME HOW I KNOW. ;)

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Maritime said:
Coming along great.

Sonreir said:
Nice progress.

Thanks guys, I was hoping to spray some epoxy this weekend. And start re-assembly finishing parts as I go.
But, looks like weekend weather forecast may not permit that.
 
Re: 78 CB400A for Rachel

trek97 said:
Rach just said "Xylene is a really strong solvent, and she cant imagine it NOT melting rubber." So maybe I should check every 3 hours???

I was reading this thread for the 1st time. My 1st bike was a 750 hondamatic and my second was a cm400t so this is neat.

I do want to weigh in on that xylene discussion since I am a chemist. It's not going to dissolve your parts, but I would not use it and here is why: xylene is a very strong extracting solvent and will extract and remove plastcizers out of the rubber and polymer parts. Those are chemicals that make them pliable. It's going to penetrate into the material and make it temporarily pliable but its also volatile so it will gradually evaporate away, leaving behind a part that is less pliable and maybe even a bit shrunk. Interestingly if it shrinks at all that could be temporarily a good thing on say some carb boots that got a little stretched out and were not sealing well. But I think it's going to end up cracking and disintegrating sooner. Plus it's bad bad shit to inhale, I think it caused blood cancers and we don't touch it in the lab except in the fume hood. I like to soak hard rubber in armor all because it replaces and builds up plasticizers.
 
Re: 78 CB400A for Rachel

echo said:
I was reading this thread for the 1st time. My 1st bike was a 750 hondamatic and my second was a cm400t so this is neat.

I do want to weigh in on that xylene discussion since I am a chemist. It's not going to dissolve your parts, but I would not use it and here is why: xylene is a very strong extracting solvent and will extract and remove plastcizers out of the rubber and polymer parts. Those are chemicals that make them pliable. It's going to penetrate into the material and make it temporarily pliable but its also volatile so it will gradually evaporate away, leaving behind a part that is less pliable and maybe even a bit shrunk. Interestingly if it shrinks at all that could be temporarily a good thing on say some carb boots that got a little stretched out and were not sealing well. But I think it's going to end up cracking and disintegrating sooner. Plus it's bad bad shit to inhale, I think it caused blood cancers and we don't touch it in the lab except in the fume hood. I like to soak hard rubber in armor all because it replaces and builds up plasticizers.

Thanks bud, some great info there. Yeah, my wife is a Histology Tech. When she saw it on the shelf she gave me the lecture and told me never to use it again. Its still sitting there...but not being used. I just need to find a way to dispose of it. I ended up finding a new pair of insulators...So, went that route. :)
Thanks again.
Also want to add, sorry for the lack of pics halfway through the thread. Photobucket sucks. Im slowly doing the best I can to repair the damaged thread.
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Interestingly enough, a combination of Xylene and Wintergreen oil works quite well for restoring old rubber parts. The oil possibly filling the gaps as the Xylene evaporates?
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Sonreir said:
Interestingly enough, a combination of Xylene and Wintergreen oil works quite well for restoring old rubber parts. The oil possibly filling the gaps as the Xylene evaporates?

That is interesting. I'm coming at this from theory rather than experience as I never tried this. Could very well be the xylene helps wintergreen soak in. Natural plasticizers could be just as good as artificial ones. Nature is after all the best engineer!
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Old chrome bits are cleaning up nicely. Some original to the bike, some are ebay replacement parts.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Got a break in the temps.
Soaked parts in Lacquer thinner.
I was able to spray epoxy outside then back inside to dry.

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Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

She'll look better than when she left the Honda factory when you are done
 
Re: Rachels 78 CB400A...generic re-fresh

Maritime said:
She'll look better than when she left the Honda factory when you are done

Oh, I don't know about all that. However, 98% sure she'll be the cleanest 78 Hondamatic in Fairmount.

Population - 650. ;D
 
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